yfd910

Lights & Sirens have to be on when responding in an Emergency Mode and you are "requesting the right of way" i.e. going through red lights/stop signs, traveling in the opposite lane, etc. If you are responding Non Emergency in the normal flow of traffic an accident is like any other accident. This is another of the old falicies of the fire service that you have to go lights & siren to everything. St Louis FD has a long list of calls they respond to "on the quiet" or in the Non Emergency mode.

So are you saying there are non-emergencies that we respond to or are you referring to relocating and such??

I consider a call a non-emergency when the first arriving officer tells me so.....and until I get there, it's an emergency.

For one thing, the subject of 15 minutes is exactly what this topic is about, so to keep responding 15 minutes after the arrival of first due units is pathetic.....

In Yonkers we're returned as soon as the first arriving officer tells the Battalion Chief it's nothing or that the first in units can handle. That's probably an average of 4 minutes afterwards.

There are plenty of times 3rd and 4th due Companies never make it to the scene and are returned en-route.

Also, our first officer's call a 10-20 upon arrival if nothing is showing, which is a cautionary response: take it down a notch, slow down, etc.

As far as lights and sirens, I believe the V&T law states when responding to emergencies, lights and sirens are to be on. What happens if you get into an accident on the way to a call with no lights and sirens on? The person sues and finds that out? You'll be hung out to dry. My first Department tried to have 2nd and 3rd due units respond no lights and sirens because people in the town complained we made too much noise, and as an Exec. Board member, we fought that order and it lasted a few days before it was deemed asinine by all involved with it.

Now, as for responding "HOT" please.....I have been told by many friends that those cars you see with the "blue lights" on the dashboard will run you off the road if you don't get out of the way. And that's a personal vehicle, not a 40,000lb rig with lights and sirens. Guys need to slow down when driving, period.

...and I'd still like to know where and what Department kept rigs coming in 15 minutes after the arrival of the first units.......

Nepostism in the FD is fine by me. It keeps traditions alive and well, and sometimes gets us the candidate we need.

Although I know it's much harder in the cities around here, in the small towns, absolutely. It can be a good thing.

In a small department in a small town, it's more like one big family and it needs to stay that way.

A lot of men are losing perspective on what this job is.

Nepotism, even though everyone hired has to take a test and there are rules, keeps the respect for the job alive over someone who

just wants the benefits and not have to work weekdays, etc.

I'd rather have someone next to me who wants to learn the job and knows about it from his dad, grandfather, uncle, cousin or brother.

Being an EMT does not make you a better firefighter than someone who isn't and EMT. That's a ridiculous statement, even if EMS is a vital part of your departments runs.

Most Dept's around here train you to that level anyway once you get on. I know my last job did, and it didn't mean anything when I got on in Yonkers.

So this gets edited because I said I'd rather not have this edited or deleted? A whole paragraph or two because of one line???

Come on guys!!!

Nepostism in the FD is fine by me. It keeps traditions alive and well, and sometimes gets us the candidate we need.

Although I know it's much harder in the cities around here, in the small towns, absolutely. It can be a good thing.

In a small department in a small town, it's more like one big family and it needs to stay that way.

A lot of men are losing perspective on what this job is.

Nepotism, even though everyone hired has to take a test and there are rules, keeps the respect for the job alive over someone who

just wants the benefits and not have to work weekdays, etc.

I'd rather have someone next to me who wants to learn the job and knows about it from his dad, grandfather, uncle, cousin or brother.

Being an EMT does not make you a better firefighter than someone who isn't and EMT. That's a ridiculous statement, even if EMS is a vital part of your departments runs.

Most Dept's around here train you to that level anyway once you get on. I know my last job did, and it didn't mean anything when I got on in Yonkers.

Why was this edited? I didn't make any comments about anyone or the moderator?

For 15 minutes rigs kept coming in? I'd love to know what Department did this......

15 minutes, huh?? That's a LONG time to keep responding.......

Nepostism in the FD is fine by me. It keeps traditions alive and well, and sometimes gets us the candidate we need.

Although I know it's much harder in the cities around here, in the small towns, absolutely. It can be a good thing.

In a small department in a small town, it's more like one big family and it needs to stay that way.

A lot of men are losing perspective on what this job is.

Nepotism, even though everyone hired has to take a test and there are rules, keeps the respect for the job alive over someone who

just wants the benefits and not have to work weekdays, etc.

I'd rather have someone next to me who wants to learn the job and knows about it from his dad, grandfather, uncle, cousin or brother.

Being an EMT does not make you a better firefighter than someone who isn't and EMT. That's a ridiculous statement, even if EMS is a vital part of your departments runs.

Most Dept's around here train you to that level anyway once you get on. I know my last job did, and it didn't mean anything when I got on in Yonkers.

If the taxpayers pay your salary, why is it such a secret? I know where I used to work, it was a closely guarded secret becuase they feared the taxpayers may find out what a "good gig" they had and revolt....however I understand that if the numbers are really publicized, then that opens politican's eyes to "cuts".

It's perfectly fair....although it limits the amount, and sometimes, the caliber of canidates they have to choose from, people who grew up and live in that City should have the first right at jobs in their hometown.

It's not a secret Seth, and I'll guess that more than half the people on this site DON'T pay my salary, it's just not something I'm going to post for all to see.

What salary we get after starting pay is what my Union negotiates for me and my fellow YFD members and it's our business.

If John Q taxpayer wants to know what it is, and he's a Yonkers taxpayer, let him go to City Hall and ask. This isn't the place...

When a certain someone was a firefighter, I don't remember seeing his former Dept's salary posted for all to see, except that one time he posted his Chief's salary...

and that was wrong and I told him so in a PM...

I contribute to my doctor and lawyer's salaries every time I visit them but I don't ask them how much they make a year. It's out of respect, and I bet they make more than me...

As far as residency is concerned, absolutely resident's get first preference. If you want to work in Yonkers bad enough, move there and establish a residence.

That's exactly what I did when I left my first Dept. I bought a Co-op on Midland Ave., took the test the next year and got on.

Just understand that the YPD does investigate fully to see if you really live where you say you do. And they do investigate. We didn't take someone for our last

class because they didn't live in Yonkers and there are plenty of men from the past that got threatened with arrest for lying about their residency and weren't hired.

What is the pay range?

Starting at $69,291.00 to...?

Starting pay is $67, 291, not $69, 291......

....and we like to keep the range to ourselves.....no offense...

YFD 910, we also "re-tone" in Yonkers, companies are originally toned out for the assignment, and on all hands, fire control tones a 10-30 tone and "page all" tone alerting all stations and administrative divisions of the condition. Hence, re-tone. Usually it is at least 3 minutes after the first arriving units get on scene and realize they have a worker and not just another "I burned the chicken". As well, on the 10-30 (confirmed major structure fire) YFD gets additional units, and YPD for traffic, and EMS for medical conditions/aided cases possibly resulting from said incident.

Oswego,

No.........

It is not a "re-tone". It's an alert/notification to the rest of Companies that a 10-30 has been called. That's it. It most certainly is not a re-tone.

When you read the reports, it's not listed as "re-toned" a 10-30. 10-30 in Yonkers just means that we're using the full first alarm assignment. M.S.U. is called,

and I believe a D/C also. I think even Con-Ed......I'm sure Chief Flynn can confirm.

It isn't even a Second Alarm.

From what I got from this thread, re-toning is calling for men to respond that haven't already; an additional tone out to let volunteer members know help is needed now.

Even the VAC's re-tone 2 sometimes 3 times for members to respond before they need to call M/A.

I just don't think it's the same thing....

No way!!

I think the bashing, ball breaking and comparisons make most of the topics on here fun to read and follow!!

It can add to idea exchange and give insight into what the job is all about.

As Get the Roof said in another topic, "3/4's of you wouldn't last at the kitchen table at the end of the shift."

(the Nancy Boy line was one of the BEST lines I think I ever read here!!)

The rest of you wouldn't make it through the day at most of the firehouses I've worked at.

You have to have thick skin in this business......there's no crying in Firefighting.....

And I am VERY against the editing of posts by moderators.

They should contact the person who made the post and give them a chance to retract/edit their own posts instead of taking it upon themselves to edit/delete.

That's censorship and not what free speech is about.

And I've said it before and I'll say it again:

Everyone wants to be a paid Firefighter. Period.

There isn't one Volunteer who would turn down a paid job in Anytown, U.S.A.

(How many of you saw Yonkers FD's recent job announcement in the Journal News and filled out applications or wished they had a Yonkers address?)

OK, so now this post will get edited too, right??

Why are some of these posts being edited by someone other than the person who made the post???

Date:3/20/2008

Time: 21:08

Location: 260 Valentine Lane

Units Operating: 304, 303, 306, 307, 312, 308, 309, 71, 74, 75, 72, Res 1, Safety, MSU, Batt 1 & Batt 2.

Description Of Incident: 2nd Alarm, Heavy Fire 3rd Floor, Multiple Rescues, 7 Story Ordinary Construction.

Writer: yfd910

Joe, they don't bust out the walkers on a 3rd retone at 14

kiddin',

Love ya!! Miss Ya!

HEY!!!!!!!

My question is:

What is "re-toned"??

In the Incident Alert, the Alarm time is given at 2005, then Briarcliff is "re-toned" for the working structure fire at 2008!!!.....Why are they being re-toned?

Is it a second alarm?

Or is that like being called again?? Do you wait for someone to confirm it's a fire and play catch up before responding??

"Hey, we really have a fire!! No bull***!!! We need everyone now!! Come on, guys!! I know American Idol just started, hope you have a DVR!!"

I just don't get being re-toned......Do you guys pick and choose what calls to go on based on the type of call, time of day, or whether it's a job or not??

I know all volunteers sacrifice their personal lives to help others, but to have to be re-toned 3 minutes later....well, something is wrong.

Could you imagine what would happen if an entire first alarm in Yonkers had to be called again after 3 minutes??

That's 3 minutes that were lost in fighting that fire. Luckily, no one got hurt.

Forgive me if I have this all wrong, but I'm just reading timestamps and wondering why.............

post MODERATED

There will be no further discussion of site moderation in this topic.

Next OT post, shuts it down.

Huh??

A cigar's (or cigarrette) too big for a face piece I thought. Am I wrong to say that you have a bad seal around your face piece?

Mike

Please smack yourself for me, kid.........thanks....

Whats the cigar cutter and lighter for, do you smoke on scene

No, he performs circumcisions and then lights fires............

Rule #3 is ridiculous.......

.......and yet still verified or non verified members don't have to identify what agency they're affiliated with, but you have to provide your age.......

(does this count as a post??)

Yeah, it's missing from the blog and the forum...........what happened???

Wow.........

Joey, did she see any numbers???

On the County list, it's not your rank that counts but your grade. Like Demps121 said and the link to the NYS Dept of CC, everyone with the same grade is the same rank number, especially if you live in a town with a paid department that requires residency. I don't know what happens when it comes to those who live in Dutchess or in a town without a paid department. Any Department has to interview all of one grade before moving on to the next lower grade once they get down to 2 or less. In the past, I've gotten letters from Scarsdale and Rye Brook with a grade of 90, after about 2 years. Best bet, call Westchester County Civil Service. Maybe the lady there can and will answer any questions. My best advice is to establish residency in a town with a paid department and get a high score. Remember that there are only what, 15 paid departments, with the 4 cities having the most FF's, and I was told this was the biggest turnout for the FF exam. My best guess would be a couple thousand took that test for very few positions. I think Eastchester is the biggest department (not including the cities) and they usually take 10-12 off of a 4 year list and require residency. That's not a lot.

And the Yonkers test is no secret......I just stated I don't know when it is because if I hadn't, I'm sure a number of people would've asked. That's all. If you're not a resident by the time the application comes out, it's too late and you're making a donation to the city and taking a test for experience. We do check residency here, and I believe one member of this board was bumped for not being a resident.

Joe

LP,

The Towns and Villages in Westchester, plus the cities of Rye and Peekskill, use the same written test, scored with block grading. Scores are based in groups of 5 starting at 100, 95, 90 down to 70. There are no 87, 93 or 98's, etc. I always laugh when someone tells me they got an 87 as it just doesn't happen that way. I've been told that block grading is a way to bypass the consent decree, which the cities have.

When the scores come out, each Department gets a list from West. County Civil Service office with the scores of their residents. A handful of departments, I believe, do sometimes get a County list also, which has everyone and their score who took and passed the test from throughout the County, if these towns don't require residency. To be considered a resident in most places, you need to establish residency before the applications come out, which is usually 3 months prior to the test date. I don't think where you live matters too much to the Departments that don't require residency (2 guys I know lived in Yonkers and were hired by Lake Mohegan years ago).

I don't think your rank on the County list is anything to get too excited about, as Demps121 said, it's all block grading and everyone within a certain grade bank has the same rank and chance. The only time a Department can go to the next lower grade bank is when there are 2 or less candidates in a certain bank. It's all explained on the NYS Civil Sevice web site.

http://www.cs.state.ny.us/jobseeker/faq/scorenotices.cfm

When a Dept. needs men, most first conduct an interview, then send the candidates to the County physical. After passing the physical, the Dept. makes it's selection, they send you for a medical exam, and off to the academy you go......

That's just my basic idea from past experience.

The 4 cities; Yonkers, Mt. Vernon, New Rochelle, and White Plains do their own testing and physicals, scored to the hundreth of a point, and they're pretty serious about residency, and are held to the Vulcan Consent decree. Only Yonkers runs it's own academy, the other cities ( I think ) send their men to a County Academy class.

Did I miss anything???

Hope I helped.

Joe

And I don't know when the next Yonkers test is, so don't ask.

So is anyone going to post their grades?

My brother got a 90%.

Yonkers Fire has 3 FF's and 1 Officer (4men) on each of it's 18 Companies - 11 Engines, 6 Ladders & 1 ALF Eagle Tandem Axle Heavy Rescue. Empress provides Medical Service and Ambulances, and there are no Volunteers.